Understanding how early BPA exposure could lead to liver cancer
Official title: Understanding mechanisms of liver carcinogenesis following developmental BPA exposure
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11465976 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether exposure to the chemical BPA during development can cause liver cancer later in life, using animal models to understand the risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | December 20, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| Award (this year) | $371,574 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES034836-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11465976 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with a history or risk factors for liver cancer, or communities with higher exposure to environmental BPA.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefits are not expected for individuals; results will primarily inform prevention strategies and future human studies.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how early exposure to BPA affects the liver and its cancer-causing processes, focusing on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The work uses mice to examine how BPA exposure influences initiation and progression of liver cancer, including how BPA raises cellular stress and other cancer-related changes. Findings could point to new ways to prevent liver cancer by limiting BPA exposure during development. The study aims to uncover mechanisms that connect early chemical exposure to later cancer development in the liver.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform public health guidelines to reduce BPA exposure and help prevent liver cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows BPA can influence cancer-related processes in animal models, supporting the potential relevance to human disease.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weinhouse, Caren — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Weinhouse, Caren
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.